Fire in My Bones

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Sunday, August 24, 2025

Today's Text: Jeremiah 20:7-12

Key Verse: Jeremiah 20:9 (NIV): "But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak any more in his name,' his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

The word of the Lord in the heart of a genuine believer is like a volcano deep within the earth, where tremendous pressure and heat build up over time. It can be momentarily stifled, but the force beneath the surface is so immense that it is inevitable; it must erupt. The prophet Jeremiah gives a vivid demonstration of this profound spiritual truth. He was mocked, threatened, and imprisoned for sharing God's truth, and he reached a point of exhaustion where he desperately wanted to quit. Yet, when he tried to remain silent, he discovered God's message was not merely an external duty, but an internal, irresistible force—a holy pressure—a spiritual volcano, that made speaking the truth an unavoidable necessity.

This analogy introduces the power and inescapable nature of God’s word, highlighting the theme of divine compulsion central to Jeremiah 20:9.

The prophet's experience reveals The Inescapable Word of God. Jeremiah described God's word as a "burning fire shut up in my bones," indicating that the divine message was not just external instruction but an intrinsic force within him that he could not contain. This Internal Power made him "weary of holding it in" and unable to remain silent, highlighting that God's truth, once genuinely received, demands to be expressed. Jeremiah knew he was Compelled to Speak. This profound internal burning is the hallmark of a true sense of calling and relationship with the divine. It is proof of divine connection that transcends personal preference and could not be rivaled by physical interest or fatigue.

This does not mean we will not consistently face opposition. We will. Like Jeremiah, we shall experience mockery, reproach, persecution and conflict for delivering God's message, yet the internal fire of God's word will never cease from compelling us to continue speaking. This experience teaches us that a genuine connection with God's word produces an inner strength and boldness that enables us to carry out our God-given purpose, even when facing significant adversity. We must allow God’s fire to forge an unshakeable resolve in us.

Why not let us awake to this "holy fire" until it becomes the essence of the spirit of revival in our lives: something beyond emotions; which is not merely a temporary feeling of excitement. But a persistent, deep-seated purpose that fuels action even when one is discouraged or exhausted. It is to this end that this passage encourages us to cultivate genuine fire for God. We need such priceless few whose passion for God would become a lasting influence—never wavering and not lukewarm—reflecting a deep unstoppable commitment to God's presence and truth.

Action Steps: Ask God for a fervent, inextinguishable spirit that fuels your purpose and empowers you to share His word in spite of whatever you feel and get. Seek to be close to the source of the heat, which is spending quality time with God, His word and in fellowship with other believers to rekindle and maintain spiritual fervor. Pray for the confidence and courage to carry God's message without apology, allowing His fire to ignite and influence those around you.

Quote for the Day: "God's truth is gentle, but not a whisper. It is a mystery but not to be kept secret. It is a fire shut up in the bones, compelling every Christian to speak with unstoppable boldness." (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for placing Your powerful, unstoppable Word within us. Forgive us for the times we have tried to contain or ignore Your truth out of fear or weariness. Ignite a holy fire in our bones that we cannot hold in. Give us the courage to speak Your message with boldness and clarity, even when facing opposition, so that we may fully accomplish the purpose You have set before us — in Jesus's most glorious name. Amen.

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Thank you for being part of this journey. For additional reading on today's meditation, read: Acts 4:20, Romans 1:16, and 2 Timothy 1:7.

With all my love and prayers,

Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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